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Ukraine, Russia Conduct Largest-Ever Prisoner Exchange Amid Ongoing War

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Ukraine, Russia Conduct Largest-Ever Prisoner Exchange Amid Ongoing War

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine and Russia completed their largest prisoner exchange since the start of the war, each side returning 390 people in a landmark deal brokered during recent talks in Istanbul, leaders from both nations confirmed Friday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the agreement marked the first phase of a “1000-for-1000” prisoner swap arrangement. He confirmed that Ukraine handed over 390 individuals to Russia, a figure echoed by Russia’s Defense Ministry, which specified that each country released 270 soldiers and 120 civilians.

The mass exchange is expected to continue over the weekend, with additional prisoners likely to be transferred on Saturday and Sunday. “This is just the beginning,” Zelenskyy posted on X. “Further exchanges are scheduled. We bring our people home.”

U.S. President Donald Trump was the first to publicly announce the deal earlier in the day, writing on his platform Truth Social: “A major prisoners swap was just completed between Russia and Ukraine. It will go into effect shortly.” Trump congratulated both sides and asked if the move “could lead to something big,” hinting at potential progress toward peace.

The swap, however, does not appear to signal an imminent end to the conflict. Talks between Russian and Ukrainian negotiators last week in Istanbul, the first direct dialogue in over three years, produced no agreement on a ceasefire. Trump’s proposal for a 30-day halt in fighting was rejected by both sides, though the prisoner exchange emerged as a rare point of consensus.

Moscow reiterated its position that it is open to continued negotiations, but only if Ukraine agrees to cede additional territory, disarm, and abandon aspirations to join Western military alliances. Kyiv dismissed these conditions as unacceptable, calling them a de facto surrender that would leave the nation vulnerable to future Russian aggression.

Meanwhile, the prisoner swap underscores the human toll of the prolonged war. Ukraine estimates that Russia holds between 8,000 and 10,000 of its citizens captive, while Moscow has also captured thousands of Ukrainian fighters and civilians.

Despite the exchange, there are no visible signs of de-escalation. Fighting continues across multiple fronts, and the Kremlin’s core demands remain unchanged.

While Trump has shifted U.S. policy away from direct military support for Ukraine, he has not ruled out renewed sanctions against Moscow should peace talks collapse. After a recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, however, he announced no immediate action, signaling a cautious approach.

The Istanbul deal marks a rare diplomatic breakthrough, but analysts say any broader resolution remains distant. As long as neither side compromises on its fundamental goals, the war shows little sign of ending.

 Napoli Clinch Serie A Title with Commanding Win Over Cagliari

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 Napoli Clinch Serie A Title with Commanding Win Over Cagliari

NAPLES, Italy — Napoli captured their fourth Serie A title on Friday with a confident 2-0 home victory over Cagliari, as goals from Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku ignited jubilant celebrations at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium and across the city.

The win, paired with Inter Milan’s 2-0 triumph at Como that left them just one point behind in the standings, officially crowned Napoli as champions of Italy for the second time in three seasons. For manager Antonio Conte, it marked a personal milestone — winning the Scudetto with a third different club, having previously led Juventus and Inter to the summit of Italian football.

McTominay opened the scoring three minutes before halftime with a spectacular bicycle kick, converting a Matteo Politano cross to send the home crowd into euphoria. Lukaku added Napoli’s second just after the break, muscling past a defender and calmly slotting past Cagliari goalkeeper Alen Sherri.

While Conte was absent from the touchline due to a suspension, his side delivered the decisive performance needed to clinch the title. “All the credit goes to the boys,” Conte said afterward. “Winning in Naples is difficult. These boys are doing it for the second time in two years. They are serious, committed, and relentless.”

Napoli’s dominance was apparent from the opening minutes. Giacomo Raspadori narrowly missed with a driven effort early on, and a looping cross nearly connected with Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa for a header. Politano also tested the Cagliari keeper following a blistering counterattack, but Sherri kept the visitors in the game throughout the first half with a series of crucial saves.

Tension rippled through the stadium midway through the first half when news filtered in that Inter had taken the lead against Como, briefly muting the boisterous crowd. But McTominay’s acrobatic strike reignited the atmosphere and paved the way for an unstoppable second-half showing.

Naples mayor Gaetano Manfredi summed up the emotion of the moment in a social media post: “It is the well-deserved victory of an extraordinary team and a city that never stops dreaming, fighting, and loving.”

As fireworks burst over the Naples skyline and flares filled the night air, the city basked in the glow of its latest footballing triumph — a campaign defined by resilience, flair, and belief.

 Tower Fire in Westminster Engulfs Sixth-Floor Flat as 75 Firefighters Battle Blaze

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 Tower Fire in Westminster Engulfs Sixth-Floor Flat as 75 Firefighters Battle Blaze

LONDON — A fierce blaze tore through a residential tower block in Westminster Friday night, with flames and thick black smoke billowing from a sixth-floor flat as residents fled the building and fire crews raced to contain the inferno.

The London Fire Brigade dispatched 75 firefighters and 10 fire engines to the scene on Rochester Row after emergency services received 23 calls around 7:50 p.m. alerting them to the fire. The fire, located in Emanuel House — a seven-storey block believed to be owned freehold by Westminster City Council — was brought under control by 9:32 p.m., authorities confirmed.

The dramatic scene saw two of the Brigade’s 32-meter ladders and the LFB’s Drone Team deployed to assist in extinguishing the flames and monitoring the structure. Crews from Lambeth, Soho, and Paddington stations were among the first to arrive.

“The fire involves a sixth-floor flat in a residential block of seven floors,” the LFB said in a statement. “People are advised to avoid the area as crews respond, with local traffic being heavily impacted.”

Videos posted to social media showed intense flames and heavy smoke pouring from windows as stunned onlookers watched from the street. Nearby roads were quickly closed to allow emergency vehicles access and to protect the public.

There have been no immediate reports of injuries, and the number of displaced residents is not yet confirmed. Emergency services remain on-site to assess damage and ensure the building’s safety.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

At Least 12 Injured in Knife Attack at Hamburg Station; Suspect in Custody

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At Least 12 Injured in Knife Attack at Hamburg Station; Suspect in Custody

HAMBURG, Germany — A knife attack at Hamburg’s central station left at least 12 people injured Friday evening, prompting a swift police response and raising renewed concerns over public safety in Germany’s transport hubs.

Authorities confirmed the arrest of the suspected assailant shortly after the incident. The motive behind the attack remains unknown.

According to a report by Bild newspaper, three of the victims are in critical condition, three more sustained serious injuries, and six others were treated for minor wounds. The mass stabbing took place at one of Germany’s busiest railway stations, causing panic among commuters and temporarily disrupting rail service.

Hamburg police said in a post on social media platform X that officers responded to reports of multiple people injured by a knife-wielding individual at the station. The suspect was taken into custody at the scene.

Emergency services flooded the area within minutes, providing aid to the injured and securing the perimeter as forensic teams began their investigation. Authorities have yet to confirm whether the attack was politically, ideologically, or personally motivated.

Germany has experienced a series of knife attacks in recent years, some linked to extremist ideologies and others to mental health issues, heightening public anxiety about random violence in public spaces.

Police are expected to release further details following an initial investigation into the identity of the suspect and the circumstances surrounding the attack.

 US Dollar Plunges as Trump’s EU Tariff Threat Sparks Global Investor Sell-Off

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 US Dollar Plunges as Trump’s EU Tariff Threat Sparks Global Investor Sell-Off

NEW YORK — The U.S. dollar slumped Friday as investors rushed out of the currency following President Donald Trump’s renewed tariff threats against the European Union, a move that stoked global trade concerns and sent ripples across foreign exchange markets.

Trump announced via social media that he would recommend imposing 50% tariffs on EU goods starting June 1, citing stalled negotiations and describing the bloc as “very difficult to deal with.” In a separate post, he escalated tensions further by threatening a 25% tariff on Apple iPhones not manufactured in the United States, as well as on Samsung and other smartphone makers.

The market reaction was swift. The greenback dropped 1% against the Japanese yen to 142.48, falling to a two-week low and booking a 2.2% decline for the week — its steepest drop against the yen since early April. Meanwhile, the euro surged 0.8% to $1.1363, reaching a two-week high and marking its strongest weekly performance in six weeks.

“The key theme that is weighing on the dollar right now is the loss of confidence in U.S. policy,” said Elias Haddad, senior markets strategist at Brown Brothers Harriman. “There’s an ongoing trade war and that’s leading countries to reassess their dependency on the U.S.”

The dollar index, which tracks the greenback’s value against a basket of major currencies, slid 0.8% to 99.09, hitting a three-week low. The index is down 1.9% for the week, its biggest percentage decline since early April.

The renewed tariff rhetoric spooked equity markets as well, with U.S. stocks falling in tandem with the dollar. Analysts noted the breakdown of the dollar’s traditional role as a safe haven amid domestic policy volatility.

“The dollar and stocks selling off in unison show that the greenback is no longer a hedge in the current climate,” said Jayati Bharadwaj, global FX strategist at TD Securities. “The risks we’re facing are U.S.-centric, and that has flipped the dollar’s relationship with equities.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended Trump’s comments, saying they were in response to the EU’s slow pace in trade talks. He insisted the president views the bloc’s offers as inadequate for the United States.

The Japanese yen, in contrast, gained additional support from data showing that Japan’s core inflation rate rose at its fastest annual pace in more than two years in April. The report raised the likelihood of a Bank of Japan interest rate hike by year-end. Super-long Japanese government bonds hit record highs earlier this week, although yields eased slightly on Friday.

Investors are also weighing the impact of last week’s credit rating downgrade of U.S. sovereign debt by Moody’s, which cited the country’s ballooning $36 trillion debt and Trump’s tax proposal that could inflate it further. The tax bill passed narrowly in the Republican-controlled House and now moves to the Senate, where it faces an uphill battle amid heightened fiscal scrutiny.

In other currency moves, the British pound strengthened 0.9% against the dollar to $1.3533, touching its highest level in more than three years. The pound posted a 1% weekly gain — its strongest since mid-April.

As Trump’s aggressive trade stance reawakens fears of economic disruption and global retaliation, investors appear to be seeking shelter elsewhere, casting serious doubt over the dollar’s near-term outlook.

Kim Kardashian Robbery Ringleader, Accomplices Found Guilty in Paris but Walk Free

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Kim Kardashian Robbery Ringleader, Accomplices Found Guilty in Paris but Walk Free

PARIS — A French court on Friday found eight men guilty in the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian at a luxury Paris hotel, including the 69-year-old ringleader Aomar Aït Khedache. Despite the convictions, none of the defendants will serve additional prison time, as the court cited their advanced age and the long delay between the crime and trial.

Presiding Judge David De Pas said the “not very severe” sentences were influenced by the fact that most defendants are in their 60s and 70s, with the eldest aged 79. The court acquitted two of the ten on trial, but allowed all convicted individuals to walk free from the courtroom, having already served time in pretrial detention.

Khedache received the stiffest penalty—eight years in prison, with five suspended. Three others were sentenced to seven years, also with five suspended. Additional defendants received three- to five-year sentences, nearly all suspended. An eighth man was fined on a weapons charge.

The decision comes nearly nine years after masked men dressed as police broke into Kardashian’s suite at the Hôtel de Pourtalès during Paris Fashion Week, held her at gunpoint, bound her with zip ties, and made off with over $10 million worth of jewelry. A single diamond-encrusted cross dropped during their escape remains the only item recovered.

“You caused harm. You caused fear,” Judge De Pas told the defendants.

Though not present for the verdict, Kardashian released a statement expressing gratitude to French authorities for seeing the case through. “The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family,” she said. “While I’ll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all.”

Kardashian’s legal team added: “She looks forward to putting this tragic episode behind her.”

Khedache, whose DNA was found on the tape used to bind Kardashian, was a key figure in the investigation. He was caught on wiretaps organizing the crew and orchestrating the fencing of the stolen gems in Belgium. Known in France as part of the “grandpa robbers” or les papys braqueurs, several defendants appeared in court with walking sticks and orthopedic shoes. Prosecutors warned against underestimating them due to their age.

Kardashian’s emotional testimony earlier in the trial described the 2016 ordeal in stark detail. “I absolutely did think I was going to die,” she told the court. “I have babies. I have to make it home.”

She recounted how the intruders threw her onto a bed, zip-tied her limbs, and dragged her into a marble bathroom, where she was told to stay silent. After they fled, she scraped the tape off her wrists using a sink and hid barefoot with a friend until help arrived.

During a pivotal courtroom moment, Kardashian locked eyes with Khedache and forgave him after hearing a letter of apology read aloud. “I do appreciate the letter, I forgive you,” she said. “But it doesn’t change the feelings and the trauma and the fact that my life was forever changed.”

Khedache again asked for forgiveness during the verdict hearing, submitting a handwritten note expressing “a thousand pardons.” Other defendants also expressed remorse.

The robbery reverberated far beyond Paris, forcing a cultural shift in celebrity behavior. Once known for documenting her life in real time on social media, Kardashian ceased posting her locations and stripped her platforms of lavish displays. “People were watching … They knew where I was,” she said. Privacy, for her and others, became the new luxury.

Paris, once a refuge where Kardashian roamed the streets at night with ease, became a memory clouded by trauma. The robbery marked a turning point in her public life—and in how high-profile individuals approach safety in an era of relentless digital exposure.

Even by the standards of France’s methodical legal process, the nearly decade-long journey to justice was unusually protracted. For Kardashian, the verdict brings some closure—but the experience, she says, changed her forever.

 Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Move to Cut Off Foreign Student Enrollment at Harvard

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 Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Move to Cut Off Foreign Student Enrollment at Harvard

BOSTON — A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from stripping Harvard University of its ability to enroll foreign students, halting what the school described as unconstitutional political retaliation tied to its defiance of White House demands.

U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order just hours after Harvard filed suit in Boston federal court, warning the administration’s move would have an “immediate and devastating effect” on the university and more than 7,000 international visa holders.

“With the stroke of a pen, the government has sought to erase a quarter of Harvard’s student body—international students who contribute significantly to the University and its mission,” the lawsuit stated. “Without its international students, Harvard is not Harvard.”

The Department of Homeland Security announced the revocation of Harvard’s certification to host international students on Thursday, accusing the university of fostering an unsafe campus by allegedly enabling “anti-American, pro-terrorist agitators” to intimidate Jewish students. The department also cited unproven claims of collaboration with the Chinese Communist Party, asserting Harvard hosted and trained members of a Chinese paramilitary group as recently as 2024.

Harvard President Alan Garber responded by defending the university’s core principles, saying the school has strengthened governance and launched new efforts to combat antisemitism. Still, Garber maintained Harvard would not compromise its “legally-protected principles” in the face of government pressure.

Friday’s ruling temporarily restores Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students, including those who were planning to attend summer and fall classes. The administration’s order had sparked chaos just days ahead of graduation, forcing international students—many of whom run labs, teach courses, or coach sports—to consider whether they needed to transfer or risk losing legal immigration status.

The impact was particularly severe at Harvard’s graduate schools. The Kennedy School, where nearly half the student body is international, and Harvard Business School, with about one-third of students from abroad, were among the most affected.

Harvard argued that if the federal order were allowed to stand, the university would be barred from enrolling new international students for at least the next two academic years. Under current regulations, schools stripped of their Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification cannot reapply for one year. Harvard said it would be placed at a global disadvantage, adding that future international applicants may now hesitate to apply, fearing further political reprisals.

The legal battle centers on an April 16 demand from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who requested that Harvard submit data on foreign students potentially involved in campus violence or protests. Harvard said it provided “thousands of data points” in good faith, but the department responded Thursday, saying the school had failed to meet its demands. The administration offered no further clarification and instead revoked Harvard’s SEVP certification.

The university’s lawsuit alleges that the action violates not only the First Amendment but also the government’s own rules governing SEVP participation. Typically, schools lose certification for administrative failures—such as losing accreditation, lacking adequate facilities, or not employing qualified staff—not for vague allegations tied to student activism.

Noem’s Thursday letter escalated the dispute by demanding that Harvard turn over all records—including audio and video—of any foreign students participating in protests or deemed involved in “dangerous activity” within 72 hours to avoid permanent disqualification.

Harvard’s legal action is separate from a prior suit it filed against the Republican-led administration over $2 billion in federal funding cuts. But both cases point to an intensifying political clash between the Ivy League institution and Washington.

The administration’s actions have sparked sharp criticism from academic institutions and civil liberties advocates, who view the move as a dangerous precedent in using immigration enforcement as a political weapon against universities.

 Trump Falsely Shows Congo Mass Burial Footage as Evidence of ‘White Farmers’ Killed in South Africa-Reuters

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 Trump Falsely Shows Congo Mass Burial Footage as Evidence of ‘White Farmers’ Killed in South Africa-Reuters

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump falsely cited footage of a mass burial in the Democratic Republic of Congo as evidence of murdered white farmers in South Africa, displaying the image during a tense Oval Office meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Reuters confirmed Wednesday.

“These are all white farmers that are being buried,” Trump declared as he held up a printed screenshot of an online article accompanied by the image. The meeting, intended to repair strained diplomatic relations, turned contentious as Trump interrupted to claim white South Africans were facing a “genocide.”

However, the image shown by Trump was lifted from a February 3 Reuters video report documenting a mass burial in Goma, Congo. The footage was taken in the aftermath of violent clashes between Congolese forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group, not in South Africa, as Trump implied.

Reuters has since verified the original video, filmed by its journalist Djaffar Al Katanty. The image depicted humanitarian workers managing body bags at a burial site, not white South African farmers as Trump claimed.

The misleading photo appeared in a blog post published by American Thinker, a conservative website that referenced racial tensions in South Africa and Congo but did not clearly caption the image. It credited Reuters via a YouTube link. Trump showed the post to Ramaphosa as part of a presentation asserting widespread anti-white violence in South Africa—a claim rooted in long-debunked conspiracy theories.

Andrea Widburg, managing editor at American Thinker and author of the article, acknowledged the image had been “misidentified” by Trump but stood by the post’s argument about alleged “increasing pressure” on South Africa’s white minority. She described Ramaphosa’s administration as a “race-obsessed Marxist government.”

The White House has not responded to requests for comment on the misrepresentation.

Al Katanty, the Reuters journalist who filmed the footage, expressed disbelief at the misuse of his reporting. “It was shocking,” he said. “President Trump used my image, used what I filmed in the DRC, to try to convince President Ramaphosa that in his country, white people are being killed by Black people.”

The Oval Office meeting was part of Ramaphosa’s broader diplomatic effort to mend relations with the U.S., after Trump’s repeated public criticism of South Africa’s land reform policies and treatment of its white minority. During the meeting, Trump presented printed articles and videos that he claimed were proof of targeted killings of white farmers.

“Death, death, death, horrible death,” Trump repeated, flipping through his materials, which included unverified articles and discredited online sources.

The conspiracy theory Trump referenced—a supposed genocide of white South African farmers—has circulated for years in far-right circles despite being thoroughly debunked by experts and human rights organizations. The South African government has consistently rejected the claim, stating that it lacks any basis in fact.

The incident marks another diplomatic stumble as Trump continues to rely on far-right narratives and misinformation in international discourse. Analysts warn that such misrepresentations risk further damaging the United States’ global credibility.

 Mexico City Mayor’s Aides Killed in Brazen Attack; Police Say 4 Involved in Coordinated Ambush

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 Mexico City Mayor’s Aides Killed in Brazen Attack; Police Say 4 Involved in Coordinated Ambush

MEXICO CITY — At least four individuals were involved in the deadly ambush that killed two senior aides to Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada, authorities confirmed Wednesday, as investigators continued to piece together the city’s most brazen political assassination in years.

Police Chief Pablo Vázquez Camacho said that multiple suspects helped orchestrate the Tuesday morning execution-style shooting of Brugada’s personal secretary, Ximena Guzmán, and close adviser, José Muñoz. The victims were gunned down inside Guzmán’s vehicle along a busy boulevard as they traveled through the capital just after 7 a.m.

Authorities believe the attack was highly coordinated and deliberate. The assailant, according to Chief Prosecutor Bertha Alcalde Luján, initially fled the scene on a motorcycle hidden nearby, then switched vehicles twice in an apparent attempt to evade law enforcement as he and accomplices escaped into neighboring Mexico State.

Alcalde revealed that Guzmán was struck eight times, while Muñoz was shot four times—evidence, she said, that the gunman acted with intent and prior knowledge. “This was a direct attack carried out with significant planning and by individuals with prior experience,” she said during a press conference. However, no motive has been confirmed, and investigators have not linked the killings to any known organized crime groups.

“We cannot draw conclusions about links to organized crime, and we are not in a position to attribute the attack to any particular group,” Alcalde emphasized.

Authorities also discovered surveillance footage and evidence indicating that at least one suspect had surveilled the site of the killing in the days leading up to the ambush—suggesting the attackers were familiar with the victims’ routines.

The scene of the assassination bore signs of the brutal execution: four bullet holes pierced the driver’s side windshield, and one of the victims was found lying on the pavement. Neither Guzmán nor Muñoz had security details assigned to them, although both had received basic training in self-protection, officials said.

“They were people deeply connected to the public, and they carried out their duties without fear,” Vázquez Camacho stated.

President Claudia Sheinbaum, a political ally of Brugada and Mexico City’s former mayor, refrained from speculating on organized crime involvement during her daily briefing Wednesday. Sheinbaum, who assumed the presidency in 2024, once held the same mayoral position that has historically served as a stepping stone to national office.

Though Mexico City has long been seen as a relatively safe urban center in a country plagued by drug cartel violence, Tuesday’s assassination shattered that perception. The capital had not seen such a high-profile political attack since the 2020 ambush of then-Police Chief Omar García Harfuch, who survived but lost two bodyguards and a civilian in an assault authorities blamed on the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

In contrast, Guzmán and Muñoz’s deaths came without warning and with chilling precision. Their deaths prompted an outpouring of grief and shock across the capital, with handwritten tributes, candles, and flowers appearing at the scene. Hundreds of commuters passed the crime site the next day—some unaware of what had occurred, others still shaken.

University student Loretta García Oriz, who saw the bodies still at the scene Tuesday morning, said returning to the location gave her “the same trauma.” Local vendor Oscar Sánchez said the attack made clear that status offered no protection. “It doesn’t matter if you’re an official or just an average person—it’s all the same,” he said.

Investigators recovered clothing items from the getaway vehicles and are analyzing forensic evidence. Authorities continue to search for the remaining suspects and are reviewing footage and communications in hopes of identifying those behind the attack.

3 Sound Talent Group Employees, Including Co-Founder Dave Shapiro, Killed in San Diego Plane Crash

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3 Sound Talent Group Employees, Including Co-Founder Dave Shapiro, Killed in San Diego Plane Crash

SAN DIEGO — Three employees of Sound Talent Group, including co-founder Dave Shapiro, were killed Thursday morning when a private jet crashed into a San Diego neighborhood, igniting homes and cars and sending residents fleeing in terror.

The Los Angeles-based music agency confirmed the deaths in a statement, identifying Shapiro, 46, as one of the victims. The other two employees have not yet been named. Shapiro, who also owned a flight school and record label under the Velocity brand, was listed as the plane’s owner and held a pilot’s license, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

“We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends,” the agency said. “Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy.”

Sound Talent Group has represented artists including Hanson, Vanessa Carlton, Sum 41, and others. Shapiro’s Velocity Records has worked with acts such as rosecoloredworld, Concrete Castles, and Japanese metal band Nemophila.

According to the FAA, six people were aboard the Cessna Citation II jet when it slammed into Murphy Canyon—home to the largest cluster of Navy-owned housing in the United States—just before 4 a.m. during dense fog. Two fatalities were initially confirmed by local authorities, but the agency later reported three deaths among the company’s employees. The total death toll remains under investigation.

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator Elliot Simpson said the jet clipped power lines before striking a home, sparking a massive blaze that engulfed vehicles and sent jet fuel coursing down residential streets. At least one home was destroyed and around 10 others sustained damage. Several cars were burned to their frames.

The crash occurred approximately two miles from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. Flight tracking data from FlightAware shows the plane departed Teterboro Airport in New Jersey Wednesday night, made a fueling stop in Wichita, Kansas, and then continued to San Diego. In audio recorded by LiveATC.net, the pilot can be heard reporting final approach at around 3:45 a.m.

San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described the aftermath as “horrific,” noting that jet fuel had flowed down Salmon Street while flames consumed cars and property. “With the jet fuel going down the street, and everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrifying to see,” he said.

More than 100 residents were evacuated, with some treated for smoke inhalation or injuries sustained while escaping. Among them was Ariya Waterworth, who fled with her two children and dog after seeing a “giant fireball” outside her window. “I definitely do feel blessed because we’ve been spared,” she said, recounting how one of her vehicles was completely destroyed and her yard was strewn with wreckage.

Police reported that five members of one family were taken to a hospital after seeking refuge in a nearby school, while others received on-site treatment. Officers also rescued several pets, including three husky puppies, using a wagon.

City Councilmember Raul Campillo shared stories from residents of military families helping each other escape through windows and across rooftops. “It was a miracle more people weren’t seriously hurt,” he said.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, though aviation experts say weather conditions may have played a role. Barry Newman, an aviation attorney, noted that in such foggy conditions, the pilot would have been flying under instrument flight rules (IFR), but visual contact with the runway is required below 673 feet at Montgomery-Gibbs. Failure to see the runway at that altitude should trigger a missed approach.

Thursday’s tragedy echoes previous aviation disasters in San Diego, including a 2021 crash that killed a pilot and UPS driver, and a 2008 U.S. Marine Corps jet crash that killed four in a residential neighborhood.

The NTSB has taken over the investigation, with officials reviewing flight data, maintenance logs, and pilot communications in an effort to determine what went wrong.

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